Gas cut-off assembly for gas heater

ABSTRACT

A gas cut-off assembly for a gas heater includes a top part and a bottom part, and a middle part is connected between the top and bottom parts. The top part is connected with a valve connected to a burner. The bottom part is connected to the gas source. The middle part has a flange through which a central hole is defined. A ball is movably received between the top part and the middle part. A plunge movably extends through the central hole to push the ball which is pushed upward to open the central hole to allow gas to pass and flow to the burner. When the heater is titled, the ball rolls aside and the plunge is pushed by a resilient unit to seal the central hole to cut off the supply of the gas.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Fields of the Invention

The present invention relates to a gas cut-off assembly, and more particularly, to a gas cut-off assembly for a gas heater and which cuts off the gas supply when the heater is tilted.

2. Descriptions of Related Art

The conventional gas heater as shown in FIG. 1 comprises a burner 10 which has multiple holes 101 through which flames come out, a valve 11 which is connected to the mixing tube 102 of the burner 10, a connection tube 12 which is connected to the inlet pipe 112 of the valve 11, a pressure reduction valve 13 connected to the other end of the connection tube 12, and a gas source 15 that is connected to the other end of the pressure reduction valve 13. Gas is supplied to the burner 10 via the pressure reduction valve 13, the connection tube 12 and the valve 11.

However, when the heater is tilted, the supply of the gas is not cut off and still flows to the burner 10 via the pressure reduction valve 13, the connection tube 12 and the valve 11. This may cause dangerous results if flammable objects are in contact with the flames of the burner 10.

The present invention intends to provide a gas cut-off assembly for a gas heater when the heater is tilted, so as to eliminate the shortcomings mentioned above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a gas cut-off assembly for a gas heater, and the gas cut-off assembly comprises a top part, a middle part and a bottom part. The top part is connected to an inlet of a valve. The middle part is connected to between the top part and the bottom part. The top part has an outlet which communicates with the inlet of the valve. The middle part has a central hole defined therein. The bottom part has an entrance which communicates with a gas source. The outlet, the central hole and the entrance communicate with each other.

A ball is movably received between the top part and the middle part. A plunge movably extends through the central hole of the middle part so as to push the ball. The plunge has a board connected thereto which removably seals the central hole of the middle part. A resilient unit is resiliently pushing the plunge to seal the central hole of the middle part by the board.

When the heater is located upright, the ball pushes the plunge toward the bottom part, the board is removed from the central hole which allows gas from the gas source to pass and flow to the inlet of the valve.

When the heater is tilted, the ball moves aside and away from the movement path of the plunge. The plunge is pushed by the resilient unit toward the top part and the board seals the central hole to cut off the supply of the gas to the burner.

The present invention will become more apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the conventional heater;

FIG. 2 shows the gas cut-off assembly of the present invention used on the conventional heater;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the gas cut-off assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the gas cut-off assembly of the present invention, when the heater is tilted;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a second embodiment of the gas cut-off assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the second embodiment of the gas cut-off assembly of the present invention, when the heater is tilted;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a third embodiment of the gas cut-off assembly of the present invention, and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the gas cut-off assembly of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, the gas cut-off assembly for a gas heater of the present invention comprises a top part 3, a middle part 4 and a bottom part 5. The top part 3 has the first end thereof connected to an inlet 20 of a valve 2 which is connected to a burner (not shown). The middle part 4 is connected to between the second end of the top part 3 and the first end of the bottom part 5. The top part 3 has an outlet 30 which communicates with the inlet 20 of the valve 2. The middle part 4 has a flange 40 formed therein and a central hole 401 is defined through the flange 40, so that the plunge 7 extends through the central hole 401. The bottom part 5 has an entrance 50 which communicates with a gas source 99 such as a gas tube (not shown). The outlet 30, the central hole 401 and the entrance 50 communicate with each other. A ball 6 is movably received between the top part 3 and the middle part 4. A plunge 7 movably extends through the central hole 401 of the middle part 4 so as to push the ball 6. The plunge 7 has a board 75 connected thereto which removably seals the central hole 401 of the middle part 4 to cut off the supply of the gas. A resilient unit 8 resiliently pushes the plunge 7 to seal the central hole 401 of the middle part 4 by the board 75.

The top part 3 has a first threaded portion 31 formed on the second end thereof so as to be connected to outer threads 41 on the top end of the middle part 4. A room 35 is defined between the top part 3 and the middle part 4. A sealing unit 98 is clamped between the second end of the top part 3 and the top end of the middle part 4. The room 35 communicates with the outlet 30 and the central hole 401 of the middle part 4, and the ball 6 is movable within the room 35.

The bottom part 5 has a second threaded portion 51 formed on the first end thereof so as to be connected to inner threads 42 formed on the lower end of the middle part 4. A reception area 43 is defied between the middle part 4 and the bottom part 5. The reception area 45 communicates with the central hole 401 of the middle part 4 and the entrance 50 so that the plunge 7 and the board 75 that is connected to the plunge 7 are movable within the reception area 45. A sealing unit 98 is clamped between the first end of the bottom part 5 and the middle part 4. A support member 90 is located on the top of the flange 40 and includes a recess defined therein. The support member 90 has a guide hole 901 through which the plunge 7 extends. The support member 90 has a through hole 902 which allows gas to pass therethrough. A securing member 95 is located beneath the flange 40 and has a passage 951 through which the plunge 7 extends. The securing member 95 includes outer threads 950 so as to be connected to the inner threads 42 of the middle part 4. The securing member 95 includes a passage 951 through which the plunge 7 extends.

The plunge 7 includes a restriction portion 70 to which the board 75 is connected. A plate 76 is connected to the outside of the board 75. The resilient unit 8 has one end biasing the plate 76, and the other end of the resilient unit 8 biases the bottom part 5. Specifically, the resilient unit 8 has one end biasing the board 75, the plate 76 or the restriction portion 70, and the other end of the resilient unit 8 biases the bottom part 5 or the securing member 95 that is connected to the bottom part 5.

When the heater is located upright, the ball 6 is received in the recess of the support member 90, and the weight of the ball 6 is larger than the resilient force of the resilient unit 8, so that the ball 6 pushes the plunge 7 toward the bottom part 5. Therefore, the board 75 is removed from the central hole 401 which allows the gas from the gas source 99 to pass and flow to the inlet 20 of the valve 2 via the entrance 50 of the bottom part 5, the central hole 401 and the outlet 30 as shown in FIG. 3. The burner is operated normally.

When the heater is tilted, the ball 6 moves aside and away from a movement path of the plunge 7. There is no resistance to the plunge 7, so that the plunge 7 is pushed by the resilient unit 8 toward the top part 3 and the board 75 seals the central hole 401 as shown in FIG. 4. Therefore, the gas in the reception area 45 cannot flows to the room 35 via the central hole 401 so that there is no gas supply to the valve 2 and the burner. This performs a safety feature to automatically cut off the supply of the gas to prevent from burning other objects. The temperature induction electro-valve unit 26 as shown in FIG. 2 is not activated, so that the inlet 20 is sealed. The heater has to be ignited again after it is re-arrange upright position.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the second embodiment of the present invention is disclosed, wherein the middle part 4 has a flange 40 formed therein which has the central hole 401 through which the plunge 7 extends. The flange 40 has a support portion 43 which is a recess in which the ball 6 is received. The central hole 401 includes a guiding hole 4010. Two ribs 4011 are connected between the inner wall 401 and the outer wall of the guiding hole 401, and a path 4012 is defined between the two ribs 4011. The path 4012 communicates with the top and the bottom of the flange 40.

FIG. 7 shows the third embodiment of the present invention is disclosed, wherein the top part 3 has multiple top locking holes 32 which replace the first threaded portion 31, and are located corresponding to top threaded holes 441 of the middle part 4. The bottom part 5 has multiple bottom locking holes 52 which replace the second threaded portion 51, and are located corresponding to bottom threaded holes 442 of the middle part 4. Bolts 49 respectively extend through the top locking holes 32 and the bottom locking holes 52, and are threadedly connected to the top threaded holes 441 and the bottom threaded holes 442 of the middle part 4 so s to connect the middle part 4 to the top part 3 and the bottom part 5. A sealing unit 98 is clamped between the top part 3 and the middle part 4, and between the bottom part 5 and the middle part 4.

FIG. 8 shows the fourth embodiment of the present invention is disclosed, wherein the second end of the top part 3 is force-fitted to the middle part 4. The bottom part 5 has a second threaded portion 51 formed on the first end thereof so as to be connected to the middle part 4.

While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A gas cut-off assembly for a gas heater, comprising: a top part, a middle part and a bottom part, the top part having a first end adapted to be connected to an inlet of a valve, the middle part connected to between a second end of the top part and a first end of the bottom part, the top part having an outlet which is adapted to communicate with the inlet of the valve, the middle part having a central hole defined therein, the bottom part having an entrance which is adapted to communicate with a gas source, the outlet, the central hole and the entrance communicating with each other, a ball movably received between the top part and the middle part, a plunge movably extending through the central hole of the middle part so as to push the ball, the plunge having a board connected thereto which removably seals the central hole of the middle part, a resilient unit resiliently pushing the plunge to seal the central hole of the middle part by the board, when the heater is located upright, the ball pushes the plunge toward the bottom part and the board is removed from the central hole which is adapted to allow gas from the gas source to pass and flow to the inlet of the valve, when the heater is tilted, the ball moves aside and away from a movement path of the plunge, the plunge is pushed by the resilient unit toward the top part and the board seals the central hole.
 2. The gas cut-off assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top part has a first threaded portion formed on the second end thereof so as to be connected to the middle part, the bottom part has a second threaded portion formed on the first end thereof so as to be connected to the middle part, a sealing unit is clamped between the second end of the top part and the middle part, and between the first end of the bottom part and the middle part.
 3. The gas cut-off assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top part has multiple top locking holes which are located corresponding to top threaded holes of the middle part, the bottom part has multiple bottom locking holes which are located corresponding to bottom threaded holes of the middle part, bolts respectively extend through the top locking holes and the bottom locking holes, and are threadedly connected to the top threaded holes and the bottom threaded holes of the middle part, a sealing unit is clamped between the top part and the middle part, and between the bottom part and the middle part.
 4. The gas cut-off assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second end of the top part is force-fitted to the middle part, the bottom part has a second threaded portion formed on the first end thereof so as to be connected to the middle part.
 5. The gas cut-off assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the middle part has a flange formed therein which has the central hole through which the plunge extends.
 6. The gas cut-off assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein a support member is located on a top of the flange and includes a recess defined therein, the support member has a guide hole through which the plunge extends, the support member has a through hole which is adapted to allow gas to pass therethrough, a securing member is located beneath the flange and has a passage through which the plunge extends.
 7. The gas cut-off assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the middle part has a flange formed therein which has the central hole through which the plunge extends, the flange has a support portion which is a recess in which the ball is received.
 8. The gas cut-off assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the central hole includes a guiding hole, two ribs connected between an inner wall and an outer wall of the guiding hole, and a path defined between the two ribs, the path communicates with a top and a bottom of the flange.
 9. The gas cut-off assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plunge includes a restriction portion to which the board is connected, a plate is connected to an outside of the board, the resilient unit biases the plate.
 10. The gas cut-off assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the resilient unit has one end biasing the board, the plate or the restriction portion, the other end of the resilient unit biases the bottom part.
 11. The gas cut-off assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the resilient unit has one end biasing the board, the other end of the resilient unit biases the bottom part or the securing member of the bottom part. 